20 Day Japan Tours & Trips

Start in Hokkaido, the dream of nature-loving travelers. The island is Japan’s preferred winter playground, with exciting snow festivals every February. Summers amaze with rainbow fields of flowers, especially fragrant lavenders and cheery sunflowers. Travel to Tokyo, Japan’s capital and its most magnificent city. Tokyo is a city that perfectly combines both past and future, with glittering skyscrapers towering over old- fashioned temples and wooden shrines. Visit Nikko, a peaceful town surrounded by natural splendor, known for its impressive temples and shrines. The biggest must-see is undoubtedly the magnificent Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a monument to Japan unifier Tokugawa Ieyasu. The shrine is richly appointed with fantastic artwork and accented by a row of old cedar trees. Next stop in Kamakura to see that Great Buddha (or Daibutsu). This massive seated statue represents the Buddha of Infinite Light, The Hakone region awaits travelers at the foot of Mount Fuji with the promise of natural beauty and a chance to relax away from busy Tokyo into the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Take a refreshing cruise on a pirate ship around Lake Ashi, taste local foods cooked in volcanic steam, and even view the grandeur of Mount Fuji up close. Journey to the charming town of Takayama, tucked up in the mountainous Hida region. Strolling through Old Town Takayama feels like a step back to the more traditional Edo period, where streets are lined with classical wooden residences, shops, and cafes. In the same region is UNESCO Village Shirakawago, inscribed for its Gassho-zukuri farmhouses featuring thatched roofs “folded like hands in prayer”, and surrounded by enchanting and idyllic landscape. The coastal city of Kanazawa is the next stop, which invites you to enjoy Kenrokuen – one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, as well as try your hand at decorating with gold leaf, which is a local specialty product. Take in the sights of Kyoto, the center for Japanese imperial culture for a thousand years, and get immersed in traditional Japan as you walk through the thousand gates of Fushimi Inari or experience a refined tea ceremony. Nearby Nara city is worth visiting for its rich historical sites, with the added delight of meeting hundreds of cute, friendly Sika deer wandering around Nara Park. Follow that with a stop in Osaka, which welcomes travelers with its delicious street cuisine and it’s one-of-a-kind local culture, which is down-to-earth and relaxed. Wrap up the tour in Hiroshima, which offers a reflection on a dream of world peace at the Peace Memorial Park, a memorial to the victims of nuclear attack. Make time for a visit to Miyajima Island, where the picturesque torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine presents one of the Three Views of Japan.